Thanks to encouragement from Adam, here is how to install the software
using a USB key instead of direct internet access from the laptop.
on the computer with internet, go to my package repository http://quozl.linux.org.au/bp3-usb/eee/
and download the latest eee-bpw .deb file, that is the one with
the highest version, and save it onto a USB key,
insert the USB key into the Eee PC and copy the file to the /tmp
directory,
open the xterm program by typing Ctrl/Alt/T, (or if you are
using the Advanced Desktop mode, type Alt/F2, then konsole and
press Enter),
install the package, by typing
sudo dpkg --install /tmp/eee-bpw_1.5_i386.deb
(you can probably just hit TAB after eee and it will automatically
complete the file name)
... there will be a delay as the package is installed,
then work from step "f" of the
instructions on the previous page, to complete the installation of
the software, and get connected.